Casket seal structure



Feb. 12, 1952 B. F. PAUL 2,585,403

CASKET SEAL STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 22, 1949 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Benjamin F. Paul. Elwood, Ind.; Mildred H. Paul,

administratrix of said Benjamin F. Paul, de-

ceased Application September 22, 1949, Serial No. 117,173

2 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to a casket seal structure.

Herein the invention is shown included in a full lid casket. Wheneverfull couch effect is not desired but half couch or half casket efiect isdesired, a half lid may be provided and this covers the lower half ofthe body, and when the full lid is tilted open or detached, said halflid is exposed. When the lid is of complete detachable type the presentinvention insofar as controls are concerned, is disposed upon both sidesand the ends if desired. Herein the casket is illustrated as of hingelid connected type. Hence the invention is applied to the casket sideopposite the hinging of the lid. It also can be applied to either orboth ends and/or both sides. Thus the simplest and preferred form of theinvention is illustrated herein.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide, between acasket and a full lid for the same, a peripheral cushion seal and tolock the lid to the casket in such manner that the seal is clampinglyengaged between both.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in the lid pull-downand clamping pressure applying mechanism.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a full lid closed casketwith the invention applied to the near side thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the lid lower ledgeportion, the intermediate sealing gasket, the casket body upper ledgeportion and the clamp structure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of an end portion of the latter.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and of a modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and of the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings [0 indicates a full length lid having an outwardly anddownwardly directed portion ll associated with lower ledge portion 12rigid therewith and having inturned face flange [3. Portions II and 42have inturned flanges l4 and [5, see Fig. 2, suitably secured togetherwhereby tacking strips I6 and H, respectively, are mounted.

The body I8 of the casket includes lower ledge portion 19, sidewallportion 29 and upper ledge portion 2|. (See Fig. 1.) As shown in Fig. 2,the lower ledge of the lid projects beyond the upper ledge of the body.

Upper ledge 2| is'joined to the side 20 by outwardly and slightlyupwardly directed portion 22. The upper ledge 2| includes inturned faceflange 23 with a peripheral channel or well portion 24 therein. Theinner end of flange 23 terminates in downturned end or skirt 25 whichtraps upper tacking strip 26.

Seated in the groove or well 24 is the resilient cushion seal strip 21adapted for engagement with lid face is when the lid is lowered forclosing the casket. When the casket is closed this gasket seal iscompressed tightly between lid and body and completely seals the casketinterior.

As herein illustrated it is assumed the lid I0 is hinged to body l8 atthe far-side (Fig.1). In most cases end locks are not required. When thelid is not so hinged, locks are provided on the far side substantiallyas shown on the near side (Fig. l) and if desired on the casket ends aswell.

The casket body sides 20 mount the usual handle fixtures 28carrying-handle bar 29. Each endmay also mount a similar fixture 30carrying bar 3!. Mention is here made thereof for the purpose ofpointing out the disposition of the lid clamping structure.

As shown in the several figures 32 indicates a plurality of lid carrieddownwardly directed tongue portions with outwardly and upwardly directedends 33. Masking, the aforesaid and providing an interior cam face 34 isthe depending portion 35.

In proximity thereto the body portion 22, see Fig. 2, mounts the bracketportion 36 having pivots 31, see Fig. 3. These are in the form ofconfronting pockets each of which pivotally seats an end 38 of arm 39apertured at 40. An actuating bar 4! is common to all arms of all suchbracket pivoted members and extends through the aligned apertures 40.

An I-shaped strap member 42 has a slotted upper end 43, slotted as at44, and a lower curled end 45 that embraces bar 4| between the pair ofarms 39. When the bar is elevated all strap members are elevated andride up between portions 33 and 35. When near the upper limit of travelthese straps move inward so that tongue 33 engages in slot 44. When thecontrol bar 4| is pulled down and moved over center the lid I0 is drawndown tightly to the body l8 and the seal 21 is compressed. The casket isthus locked and sealed and so held by the over center action. Whendesired a key operable lock may be included to hold locked the overcenter operable clamp lock in over center position. Casket locks beingold, an illustration thereof is accordingly omitted.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention.For purposes of illustration, the gasket, the casket body and casket lidare illustrated as previously. Identical parts herein are identicallydesignated.

Herein 50 indicates an elongated base suitably secured as at 5| to theunder face of the overhanging lid ledge. Other methods of anchorage maybe employed. Projecting downwardly from said base is tongue 52 withinturned portion 53 and upturned face end 54.

A U-shaped strap has midportion 55, arms 56 and inturned pivot bearings,51. A toggle lever arm 58 is pivotally connected intermediate its endsat the pivot point bearings. It also mounts the bar 4! as shown. Theupper end 59 of said toggle lever is pivoted as at 60 to'the upper endsof arms 6! of bracket 62 secured as at B3 to the casket body portion.

Herein arms 56 mount leaf springs 64 that normally operatively bear uponcasket portion 2! and serve to constrain the U-shaped member outwardlyso that it can be trapped by the lid carried hook. When the toggle leverand bar 41 is elevated a predetermined amount such seating action isattained. When the bar is lowered the lock is over-center locked closed.When the bar is elevated beyond the original seating elevated positionthe heads 65 of rivet 60 bear inwardly upon the U-shaped member whenlifted so that it then clears hook 54 so that the lock can be opened.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others whichwillreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all areconsidered to be within the broad scope of the invention, referencebeing had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A latch mechanism for a casket having lid and body sections whereinthe lid section when in closed position projects outwardly beyond thesides of said body section, comprising a hook secured to the outwardlyprojecting portion of said lid section, an inverted substantiallyU-shaped member having its free ends turnedlin to form pivot bearings,the base oi'said member being operably associated with said hook, anover center typelever pivotally associated intermediate its ends withsaid pivot bearings, a U-shaped bracket connected to said body sectionand having pivot bearings formed in its free ends, the upper end of saidlever being pivotally associated with said last mentioned pivotbearings, the lower end of said lever serving as a handle portion, andresilient means connected to the arms of saidinverted substantiallyU-shaped member and having a portion thereof engageable with said bodysection when said latch mechanism is in closed condition forconstraining said inverted member into hooking position.

2, A latch mechanism for a casket having cooperable lid and bodysections, comprising a plurality of hooks secured at spaced intervals toone side of said lid section, an inverted substantially U-shaped memberfor each hook having its free ends turned in to form pivot bearings, thebase of each member being operably engageable with its adjacent hook, aplurality of U-shaped brackets secured to said body section and havingpivot bearings formed in their respective free ends, a plurality ofover-center type levers each being pivotally associated intermediate itsends with said first mentioned pivot bearings, the upper end of eachlever being pivotally associated with said second mentioned pivotbearings, the lower portion of each lever having an aperture formedtherethrough at a point inwardly of said pivotal connections, alongitudinal bar sized for telescopic reception within said leverapertures, and resilient means carried by the respective arms of each ofsaid inverted members, said means having an inwardly and upwardlydirected'portion engageable with said body section when the latchmechanism is in closed position for normally constraining saidrespective inverted members into hooking position.

BENJAMIN F. PAUL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 834,461 Fair Oct. 30, 1906987,906 Montross Mar. 28, 1911 1,371,422 Isidor Mar. 15, 1921 1,481,216McMillion Jan. 15, 1924 1,483,544 Donnelly Feb. 12, 1924 1,531,487Lundberg Mar. 31, 1925 1,594,669 Greive Aug. 3, 1926 1,610,342 Wertheimet a1 Dec. 14, 1926 2,312,184 Neunherz Feb. 23, 1943

